Los Angeles’ Dolby Theatre played host to Hollywood’s biggest night as the 97th Academy Awards kicked off in grand fashion. With Emilia Perez leading the nominations with 13 nods, followed closely by Wicked and The Brutalist with 10 each, anticipation was high for a night full of surprises.
While the glitz and glamour of the Oscars often focus on the red carpet and emotional acceptance speeches, an intriguing trend among past winners sheds light on another important factor: education. A closer look at the academic backgrounds of recent Oscar winners reveals that the University of California system, Yale University, and the University of Cambridge have produced the highest number of Oscar-winning actors over the past decades, according to data collated by Times Higher Education (THE).

The academic pathways of Oscar winners

In 2025, Adrien Brody (The Brutalist) made history by becoming the first actor to win an Academy Award with his first two nominations. Brody, who studied at Stony Brook University and Queen’s College in New York, joins a long line of Oscar winners who attended institutions in the state, including Philip Seymour Hoffman (Capote, 2006). New York’s academic institutions, known for their strong arts programs, have played a significant role in shaping some of Hollywood’s most talented performers.
However, a substantial number of Oscar-winning actors and actresses have also emerged from universities on the West Coast, particularly in California. The University of California system has produced several Academy Award winners, including Nicolas Cage (Leaving Las Vegas, 1996) and Helen Hunt (As Good As It Gets, 1998). The proximity of these institutions to Hollywood might offer aspiring actors more opportunities to break into the industry. Additionally, California’s community colleges have also played a crucial role in shaping talent, with both Sean Penn (Mystic River, 2004) and Hilary Swank (Million Dollar Baby, 2005) attending Santa Monica College before making it big in Hollywood.

Yale and University of Cambridge

Across the Atlantic, the University of Cambridge has left an indelible mark on the Academy Awards. The prestigious institution counts among its alumni Eddie Redmayne (The Theory of Everything, 2015), Emma Thompson (Howard’s End, 1993), and Olivia Colman (The Favourite, 2019). Interestingly, none of these actors pursued drama during their university years. Redmayne studied History of Art, Thompson focused on English Literature, and Colman initially pursued primary teaching before moving on to the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School.
Meanwhile, Yale University has a particularly strong track record, especially with its Master of Fine Arts (MFA) program. Two of the most respected actresses of all time, Meryl Streep (The Iron Lady, 2012) and Frances McDormand (Fargo, 1997; Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, 2018; Nomadland, 2021), both honed their craft at Yale’s prestigious drama school. Here are the lists of winners from last 10 years and their colleges:

‘Best-Actor’ winners and their colleges (from 2015 to 2025)

‘Best-Actress’ winners and their colleges (from 2015 to 2025)